In this article:
Morning skin care routine for teens
Nighttime skin care for teenagers
Hidden blemish triggers
Tackling teen blemishes begins with an effective skin care routine, and it doesn’t have to be complicated. We know having blemishes can cause some hard feelings, but experiencing blemishes is completely normal! In fact, about 85% of young adults aged 12-25 experience blemishes(1).
For most, it only takes four products: a cleanser, a leave-on exfoliant that contains salicylic acid (BHA), a benzoyl peroxide product, and, for daytime, a super-light broad-spectrum sunscreen to help tackle breakouts. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman adds, “In resistant cases, a topical retinoid may also be necessary.”
We’re here to walk you through how your morning and evening anti-breakout skin care routines should look. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be surprised at how fast your breakouts and bumps subside—clear skin will be its own reward.
Morning skin care routine for teens
- Cleanse with a face wash suitable for blemish-prone skin. Choose a soap-free, water-soluble formula designed to be gentle (not being gentle to skin can increase breakouts), but cleanse thoroughly (2). Use a soft washcloth or soft-bristle cleansing brush to make sure you remove excess oil.
- Exfoliate to help unclog pores with a gentle, leave-on BHA liquid exfoliant. You’ll be amazed at the difference a product like this makes—much better for blemishes than a harsh face scrub! BHA is oil soluble, meaning it can get into pores and help remove clogs.
- Apply a benzoyl peroxide treatment to all breakout-prone areas. Benzoyl peroxide is the gold standard blemish-fighting ingredient because it immediately targets the source of breakouts (3). Begin with a lower strength (2.5%) and see how your skin responds before moving to the higher strength (5%) option. Note: “A small subset of patients, particularly those with darker skin tones, can be intolerant to benzoyl peroxide,” says Dr. Hartman. “If the skin burns immediately after application and redness develops, perhaps benzoyl peroxide is not for you.”
- Sun damage can make post-blemish marks worse, so daily sun protection is the “secret weapon” in caring for blemish-prone skin. Skipping this step can cause the redness or dark spot left behind from a breakout to linger. If you’ve tried sunscreens, but found them too heavy or thick-feeling, a featherlight, oil-free moisturiser with SPF is likely to change your mind.
Nighttime skin care for teenagers
The evening routine is generally the same as the morning routine, minus the sunscreen. If your skin is dry or you notice some mild flaking, apply a thin layer of a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser over those areas. You can dab it around the eyes, too.
If you’re also struggling with post-blemish marks, apply a retinoid product that helps minimise the look of dark spots and tackles clogs before applying your nighttime moisturiser.
Hidden blemish triggers
The changes that occur during puberty aren’t the only factors behind teen blemishes. Other things that can trigger or make existing breakouts worse include:
- Not washing the face gently twice daily. Dirty skin does not cause blemishes, but not washing your face enough can lead to a buildup of oil and dead skin. This combo creates the perfect environment for blemishes and clogged pores.
- Not being gentle. Overdoing cleansing with abrasive scrubs, stiff-bristle cleansing brushes, or products with skin-aggravating ingredients (such as SD or denatured alcohol, witch hazel, menthol, peppermint, essential oils and citrus oils) damage skin’s surface. If it hurts or tingles, that means it’s bad for skin! Putting your skin in this weakened state means more pimples and oil production can occur, and post-blemish marks will probably stay around longer too.
- Not removing your makeup at night. Many teens cover up blemishes with makeup, but if you don’t remove all of your makeup every night, your blemish treatments won’t work and your clogged pores will only get worse.
- Inconsistent skin care. The only way to clearer skin is to follow a consistent, effective skin care routine. Consistency and patience are essential. “The best products in the world are useless if they aren’t used consistently,” says Dr. Hartman.
- Hairstyling products. Any creamy, waxy, or oily leave-on products applied to hair that falls on your face can cause breakouts in those areas. The solution: Keep hair off your face and use lighter hair-styling products.
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References for this information:
- Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics, January 2016, pages 13-25
- Indo American Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, July 2015, pages 2,512-2,522
- Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, June 2013, pages s73-s76